Open AccessBenefits of Upper Limb Functional Electrical Stimulation in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy
Author(s) -
Corina Sporea,
Dumitru Ferechide
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
modern medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2360-2473
pISSN - 1223-0472
DOI - 10.31689/rmm.2021.28.2.201
Subject(s) - physical medicine and rehabilitation , cerebral palsy , functional electrical stimulation , grasp , rehabilitation , spastic , wrist , upper limb , medicine , physical therapy , stimulation , spastic cerebral palsy , functional training , functional movement , range of motion , psychology , surgery , computer science , programming language
Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of Functional Electrical Stimulation in upper limb rehabilitation in children with cerebral palsy. Methods: 90 children with spastic cerebral palsy, age between 6 and 9 years, were randomized into two groups. 45 children, represented the control group, performed conventional physical and occupational therapy and robot-assisted therapy. In addition to the control group, the experimental group received functional electrical stimulation interventions with postural control on the affected upper limb. Results: The experimental group's motor performance after treatment (improved coordination by 8.2%, wrist flexion by 9.75°, three-fingered grasp strength by 1.04°, and functional limitation lowered by 5.93) was considerably better than the control group's which coordination increased by 5.5%, wrist flexion by 8.72°, three-fingered grasp strength by 0.7 and functional limitation decreased by 2.33. Conclusions: Functional electrical stimulation intervention was found to be an effective manner to improve motor performance, in terms of coordination, range of motion, and three-fingered grasp strength, visibly reducing functional limitation and improving performance in activities of daily living.